By: BILAL KANJAL
Despite the former prime minister’s directives regarding the time-scale promotions of Federal Directorate of Education’s (FDE) non-teaching staff, the staff still has not been promoted even after the lapse of five years.
The documents available with Pakistan Today indicate that on persistent demand of non-teaching employees, FDE Islamabad processed a case for granting of time-scale promotions to the non-teaching posts. The summary of the case was moved to the Establishment and Finance Division for the prime minister’s approval. The then-prime minister approved the promotions for non-teaching staff – BPS 01 to 15 – under FDE on the basis of length of service.
The approval was duly conveyed to FDE with the directions to hold a meeting of Defence of Pakistan’s Council (DPC) to implement the orders.
According to officials in FDE, Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry promised—in the wake of 28 days strike by the non-teaching employees— to resolve the issue but failed. Only 200 non-teaching staff members are enjoying time-scale and other allowances but the majority is not.
FDE Secretary Aamir Iqbal who is also a non-teaching staff member said that “we expect and hope that our current PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will resolve our long awaited issue as he emphasised on improving education sector during his speech.”
The double standard of CADD concerning the teaching and non-teaching staff under FDE is evident from the fact that the teaching staff under the same institute enjoys the very basic right of time-scale which non-teaching staff members are striving for.
According to officials in CADD, notification has been sent to Accountant General Pakistan Revenue (AGPR) to give grades and salaries to non-teaching staff but the Finance Department is delaying the issuance of salaries and promotions.